Miley Cyrus apologizes for topless Vanity Fair photo

Miley Cyrus will appear on the cover of the latest Vanity Fair set to hit newsstands later this week. She posed for a, what she now calls “racy”, shoot (above) with legendary photographer Annie Liebovitz. Miley is worried the shots will alienate fans and issued an apology to Entertainment Tonight:

“I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be ‘artistic’ and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed,” she tells ET. “I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about.”

Vanity Fair is basically saying “WTF?” to the sudden hub-bub, because Miley and her parents had no problem at all when they initially saw the photos:

“Miley’s parents and/or minders were on the set all day. Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley. In fact, when BRUCE HANDY interviewed Miley, he asked her about the photo and she was very cheerful about it and thought it was perfectly fine.”

Apparently Disney, who owns Hannah Montana, was not aware of the photos until they appeared on Entertainment Tonight. You know how Disney cares about that wholesome image. They don’t want their young starlets flashing their goods until they’re good and insane. Right, Britney Spears? Now get that kitten out of your mouth. For the last time, putting hot fudge on it doesn’t make it food. You gotta use ketchup.

EDIT: Added a video after the jump from today’s The Early Show about the controversy. Disney is definitely flipping their shit. Hannah Montana is a billion dollar franchise. That’s a spicy meatball! Thanks to Lindsey at RedLasso for the hook-up.

I think that apologizing after the fact is making the whole situation worse. She obviously wanted to do this, so she should just keep defending her decision rather than try to back out on the ordeal. Vanity Fair is a more “respected” magazine and I highly doubt they are going to do her bad in the interview…

I agree with the comment from above. IT’S NOT A BIG DEAL. Her back was bare! She has other skankier photos from the internet where she was wearing nothing but panties. It’s the fact that she apologized for it and shit. People want to know what the pictures look like and will but the magazine. I bet Disney is behind this one 100%.

Pahleeze! She AND her parents were there! They knew what photo was being shot. They consented to it. Just what did they expect the photo of her backless would look like? It sends the wrong message. I think she is overrated. Her singing is mediocre and her acting is to intentional. I personally think “Lilly” is the real actress in the Hannah Montana show.

Is there any chance we can get a few pics of a woman between the ages of 18-30….? Appreciate the Heather/Denise pics, but come on there’s enough hotties out there to talk about without having to go down the Hannah-annoying-offspring-of -achy-breaky-cyrus’s-daughter! Isn’t there?? Mila Kunis *hint, hint*